Recreational bounce type device



Dec. 17, 1963 H. F. HUGHES RECREATIONAL BOUNCE TYPE DEVICE Filed July 10 1961 FIG. I

FIG. 2

FIG. 3 [20 FIG. 4

INVENTOR.

HUGH E HUGHES FIG. 6

ATTORNEY United States Patent O F 3,114,550 RECREATIONAL BOUNCE TYPE DEVICE Hugh F. Hughes, 401 Idaho, La Habra, Calif. Filed July 10, 1961, Ser. No. 122,875 8 Claims. (Cl. 273--106) My invention relates to a toy or recreational device and, more particularly, to a bounce or rebound device characterized by an orbital motion of one sphere relative to another sphere.

Previous attempts to provide an improved bounce type toy or recreational device have usually been relatively unsuccessful. Thus, although the prior art contains a number of different bounce type toy devices, the ordinary rubber ball continues to be the most popular bounce toy. It is believed that the prior art devices have failed to supplant the rubber ball as a favorite bounce device because these devices have either failed to retain the many advantages of a rubber ball or have failed to add any new and distinctive action or motion thereto.

My invention utilizes a large and a small rubber ball which are mounted with respect to each other in such a manner that all of the play and recreational advantages of a single rubber ball are retained while there is added a new and distinctive orbital action between the two spheres. This invention is particularly apropos the present interest in outer space since the orbital action'of the toy simulates the orbital action of a satellite about the earth. This orbital action is accomplished without any special skill or throwing technique on the part of the user; therefore, my invention is very suitable for'even very young children. invention also captures the enthusiasm of adults offering both an intriguing action and a mild relaxing form of exercise.

Although certain devices described in the prior art bear a superficial resemblance to my invention, e.g. US. Patents Nos. 1,385,642 and 2,377,498, these prior art devices completely fail to anticipate the unique structural relationship between the elements of my invention which p provides the above described orbital motion.

Aocordingly, it is the object of my invention to provide an improved recreational bounce toy or recreational device characterized by a unique orbital action.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a bounce toy constructed in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 is a partly sectioned view similar to FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate modified rods :for devices constructed in accordance with my invention; and

FIG. 6 illustrates the orbital action achieved by bouncing devices constructed in the manner of FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention which includes first and second spherical members or balls 10 and 11 arranged at opposite ends of a rod or shaft 12. The spheres or balls 10 and .11 are of resilient construction and are preferably formed of sponge rubber. Rod 12 may be constructed from wood, plastic or other suitable material. Respective cylindrical openings 13 and 14 are located radially within the respective balls 10 and '11 for receiving the rod #12. As shown in FIG. 2, these openings are preferably longer than the radii of the respective balls. This construction has been found to provide a secure retention of each ball to the rod and obviates any tendency of the balls to wobble on the ends of the rod when the device is used in the manner hereinafter described.

Notwithstanding its simplicity, my-

One technique for forming the openings 13 and 14 which i 3,114,550 Patented Dec. 17, 1963 ice has been found to be quite suitable is to use a small electric soldering iron having a substantially cylindrical tip slightly smaller in diameter than the end portions of rod 12. While hot, this tip is inserted into each ball to the required depth. The rod 12 is then forced into the newly formed openings.

, In order to achieve the desired orbital motion for the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the relationship between the respective ball diameters A and C and the distance between the balls (B) must be as follows:

(1) The distance between the balls (B) must be less than approximately 3 times the diameter A of the large ball 10; and

(2) The diameter C of the small ball 11 must be of the order of one half of the diameter A of the large ball 10; or

and

The dimensions of a preferred toy or recreational device employing the relationships 3 and 4 comprises a ball 10 having a diameter A of 2 /4 inchs, a ball 11 having a diameter C of 1% inches, and a rod having a length D of 8inches and a diameter of A inch. Cylindrical opening 13 in ball 10 is 1 /2 inches long and cylindrical opening 14 in ball 11 is 1 inch long. When assembled, the distance B between the balls is 5 /2 inches.

Devices constructed in accordance withmy invention so as to have the relationship between the large ball diameter A, the small ball diameter C, and the distance B between the balls" as defined hereinabove have a unique operating characteristic which is illustrated in FIG. 6. As shown therein, device of FIG. 1 is rotating in space in an orbital manner, the small ball 11 rotating about the larger ball 10. This orbital action may be achieved by anyone capable of throwing the device against a surface 1'5. As shown in FIG. 6, the device bounces or rebounds from the surface in such a manner that the small ball 11 travels about the larger ball 10 in an orbital like manner. Also, the large ball 10 remains relatively fixed in space for a period of time which is long with the respect to and the time which it takes the smaller ball 11 to complete a single rotation around the large ball 10.

Although many ways of using devices constructed according to my invention will become apparent to the user, one recommended throwing technique is to grasp the small ball 11 in the palm of the hand with the large ball 10 extending away from the user. Then Without bending the wrist, the device is thrown downwardly to the surface 15. Upon rebounding, the device returns to the user while operating in an orbital like manner.

The orbital like motion achieved by devices constructed according to my invention distinguishes my invention over the prior art devices since the relationship between dimensions A, B and C must be as described above for the device to operate in the manner described. The prior art devices employing the arrow principle are in no Way akin to the present invention differing both in structure and function. Their dimensional relationships are such that the distance B between the balls is greater than 3 times the diameter A of the large ball 10; moreover, the prior art devices fail to provide a large ball on one end and a small ball on the other end.

Modifications of the device heretofore described in- 3 clude those utilizing rod 16 illustrated in FIG. 3, rod 20 illustrated in FIG. 4 and rod 17 illustrated in FIG. 5. As shown, rod 16 includes portions of reduced thickness near opposite ends. thereof. Theresultant knob atv eachv end. of the rod. enhances the connection between the rod and balls. Rod 20 shown in FIG. 4 is in the form of a truncated cone. The larger and smaller ends are inserted respectively in the large and small balls 10 and 11. This shape has the advantage of providing greater strength and weight for the end attached to the large ball; also, the conical. shape presents an especially aesthetic appearance. Rod 17 shown in FIG. includes disc shaped flanges 18 and 19 spaced from respective ends of the rod approximately the depth of the openings 13 and 14 in the respective balls; These flanges are rigidly attached to the rod and serve to prevent the rod from wearing itself through the balls. Such deleterious wearing of the balls may occur if the device is subjected to exceptionally hard usage.

Although the invention. has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that thesame is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of my invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A recreational device comprising a first resilient member, a second resilient member having a diameter of the order of one half the diameter of said first member,

and a rod mounting said members at opposite ends thereof so that the distance between said members is less than approximately three times the diameter of said first member,

said defined spatial distance between the resilient members providing an orbit-like action when the device is bounced from a surface wherein the smaller resilient member rotates about the larger resilient memher and said larger resilient member is maintained relatively stationary with respect to the path described by the smaller member.

2. A recreational bounce type device comprising:

a first sponge rubber ball having a diameter A,

a second sponge rubber ball having a smaller diameter than A, and

a rod mounting said balls at opposite ends thereof so that the distance B between said balls is related to A in the following; manner:

from a surface wherein the smaller ball rotates about the larger ball and said larger ball is maintained relatively stationary with respect to the path described by the smaller ball.

3. The recreational bounce type device defined in claim 2 wherein:

said second sponge rubber ball has a diameter C, the distance A being related to the distance C in the following manner:

4. The recreational bounce type device defined in claim 2 wherein:

said first and second sponge rubber balls have radial openings therein longer than their respective radii,

the respective ends of said rod being inserted to substantially the full depth of said radial openings. 5. The recreational bounce type device defined in claim 2 wherein:

said rod has a pair of respective disc-like members concentrically mounted thereon a predetermined distance from each end of the rod, said first and second sponge rubber balls being mounted on said rod so as to abut said? respective discs whereby said discs prevent said rod from Wearing through said balls when said device is used in the manner intended. 6. The recreational bounce type device defined in claim 2 wherein:

said first sponge rubber ball has a diameter of approximately 2% inches, said second sponge rubber ball has a diameter of approximately 1% inches and said rod is circular in cross-section and has a length of approximately 8 inches and a diameter of approximately 7 inch, said first and second ballsbeing: mounted on opposite ends of said rod so that the distance therebetween is approximately 5 /2 inches. 7. The recreational bounce type device defined in claim 2 wherein: Y a

said second sponge rubber ball has a diameter C, said distances A, B and C being related in the following manner:

B=2.4A and 8. The recreational bounce type device defined in claim 2 wherein:

said rod is the shape of a truncated cone.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,385,642 Restein July 26, 1921 2,377,498 Jacke June 5, 1945 3,069,804 Cirafesi Dec. 25, 1962 

1. A RECREATIONAL DEVICE COMPRISING A FIRST RESILIENT MEMBER, A SECOND RESILIENT MEMBER HAVING A DIAMETER OF THE ORDER OF ONE HALF THE DIAMETER OF SAID FIRST MEMBER, AND A ROD MOUNTING SAID MEMBERS AT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF SO THAT THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS IS LESS THAN APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES THE DIAMETER OF SAID FIRST MEMBER, SAID DEFINED SPATIAL DISTANCE BETWEEN THE RESILIENT MEMBERS PROVIDING AN ORBIT-LIKE ACTION WHEN THE DEVICE IS BOUNCED FROM A SURFACE WHEREIN THE SMALLER RESILIENT MEMBER ROTATES ABOUT THE LARGER RESILIENT MEMBER AND SAID LARGER RESILIENT MEMBER IS MAINTAINED RELATIVELY STATIONARY WITH RESPECT TO THE PATH DESCRIBED BY THE SMALLER MEMBER. 